Invalid-bed



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INVALID BED. No. 396,607. Patented Jan. 22, 1889;

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W. SAUNDERS."

INVALID BED. 1

No. 396,607. Patented Jan. 22,1889.

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UNrThn dTaTns PATENT Trice.

VILLIAM SAUNDERS, OF VEST POINT, NEXV YORK.

lNVALlD -BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,607, dated January22, 1889. Application filed April 6, 1888- $erial No. 269,843. (Nomodel.)

panying drawings, and to the letters of refer-- ence marked thereon.

My invention relates to beds such as are employed for invalids, and hasfor its object the production of a simple, durable, and efficientstructure which will afford increased comfort to the sick and woundedand admirable facilities and advantages in the manage ment and care ortreatment of the occupant.

To accomplish all of this my improvements involve certain new and usefulpeculiarities of construction and relative arrangements or combinationsof parts, as will be herein first fully described, and. then pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a perspective view of the complete bedstead, showing the threeprincipal parts thereof closed together and locked as in position foruse. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the two end sectionsseparated by a sulficient distance to accommodate the conunode and af-'ford ample space in advance of it. Fig. is a perspective like Fig. 2,but showing the parts of the bed separated from each other. .Fig. 4 is aplan showing one longitudinal locking-rod at the top instead of two, asin Figs. 1 and 3, and indicating that any number of such rods may beemployed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the locking rods.Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the upper part of the bed, showingsurgical appliances suspended therefrom; and Fig. 7 is a similar viewshowing a table suspended in position.

In all the figures like letters of reference wherever they occurindicz'ite correspomling parts.

The bedstezul proper is made of three sections, indicated at A A and B,of which A and A are preferred. to be of the same size, or practicallyso, either one being used as the head. The central section, B, is of thesame width A, but narrower, as shown. The

frame-work is preferably of iron; but it may be of brass or wood orother material. The end posts, a a a a, extend up a convenient distance,and are joined at top by one, two, three, or more adjustable rods, 1).These rods are provided with set-screws or equivalent locking devices,as at c, by use of which the end sections are locked and held at anypoint to which adjusted. The end sections, A A, have casters cl d,preferably mounted in such way as to allow the sections to be movedeasily directly toward or from each other. The central section, B, hascasters 6 preferably mounted so as to facilitate the movement of thissection only in the direction of its length.

0 is a commode, of about the height of the bed. This preferably has anadjustable seat, f, for obvious uses and purposes.

By moving the end sections apart, withdrawing the central section, B,and introducing the commode, as indicated in Fig. 2, the structure maybe conveniently used, affordin g ample room for the comfort of thepatient and for convenience of the attendant.

At g g are sliding cross-bars mounted on the rods 11 b, so that they maybe adjusted to any desired position. These with the longi- 8o tudinalrods afford convenient means for suspending and holding any accessorieswhich may be employed about the bed. D represents a canvas or othersupport for the back of the patient, held at top and bottom. The 8 5rods and cross-bars may also sustain supports for the extremities of thepatient, as E E, or various surgical appliances, buffet tables, as F,and any other devices not necessary to be detailed herein.

The bedstead can be instantly locked in open or closed position, and thelocking devices are out of the way and not liable to become disarranged.The sliding rods guide the parts accurately toward or from each other.By removing one section on tirely from the others it may be used afterthe manner of a chair.

The mattress is made in sections to correspond with'the parts of thebed, and each sec- I00 tion is intended to be incased by the sheet, likea pillow. The proportions of these sections may be such that they may beinterchanged after the manner of sectional mattresses. Thus the bed canbe easily and perfectly cared for.

The separable sections of the bed enable the surgeon or physician toplace the patient in the best position and afford him easy andconvenient access to all parts of the body.

\Vhen constructed and arranged substantially in accordance with theforegoing explanations, the improved bed will be found in practice toadmirably answer the purpose or object of the invention as previouslyset forth.

I am aware that sliding rods uniting the tops of bed-posts adapted to beadjusted to correspond with different widths of the bed were known priorto my improvement, and also a fixed cross bar or rod connecting sidebars, and I do not claim such devices. In my construction the slidingrods permit a longitudinal extension of the bed beyond its normallength, and they are adjustable with respect to each other and to thesectioi'ls. The end sections are movable to allow the use of a commode,and the entire space between the bed proper and the sliding rods 1) isunobstructed to permit a free access to the patient for the purpose ofmoving or aidinghim. The extensible or sliding rods are held fast in anydesired position and give a stability which is especially desirable inthis class of bedsteads composed of sections made readily separable forthe purpose named.

I make no claim herein to a sectional bedstead, broadly considered; but,

llavin now fully described my invention, what I do claimas new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. An invalid-bedstead composed of two end sections, the side rails ofeach section being entirely disconnected from the side rails of theother, in combii'iation with an elevated extensible frame forming thesole means for connecting said sections and holding them in the properrelation to each other, substantially as specilieii.

2. An invalid-bedstead composed of two end sections, the side rails ofeach section being entirely disconnected from the side rails of theother, in combination with an elevated extensible frame forming the solemeans for conneetin said sections and holding them in the properrelation to each other, and sliding bars made adjustable upon theextensible parts of said frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two witnesses.

WM. SAUNDERS.

Vitnesses:

DAVID ROBERTSON, H. B. WILLETT.

